Coronavirus Update

Here is the latest information concerning COVID-19 and renting a car on DiscoverCars.com.

We are working around the clock to keep up with the constantly-changing situation throughout the world so we can provide you with up-to-date information regarding travel restrictions, rental branch opening hours, shuttle services, safety measures, and more. Our Customer Support team is ready to assist you any time, night or day.

If seeking general travel advice, we strongly recommend consulting the guidance of your government and the World Health Organization.

Your health and safety are of the utmost importance to us.

If you do travel, we want you to be as safe as possible while doing so. Thus, we have added information in our search results letting you know which rental companies are disinfecting their vehicles to prevent the spread of the virus.

Badge

A badge is shown next to all cars that we have confirmed are disinfected between each and every renter.

Search filter

Use the filter on the left-hand side of the search results to only see vehicles that are confirmed to be thoroughly disinfected.

We understand your need for flexibility.

We’d like to tell you that we’ve become more flexible, but the truth is that we were always flexible. If you need to change the dates of your rental or you decide to travel somewhere else, you can modify your booking in the My Booking section without charge (although the rental price may change). Our flexible cancellation policy also remains exactly the same.

The above prices are only approximate and were last updated at 11:28 on 2020-06-06. Prices may vary based on the booking dates, length of rental, and car class.

Travel Information

Language

English

Currency

NZD

Country code

64

Average car rental length

6 days

Economy car rental price

$23.98 / per day

Traffic direction

Left-hand

Speed limit out of town

80 - 100 km/h

50 - 62 mi/h

Speed limit within town

30 - 60 km/h

19 - 37 mi/h

Acceptable limit of BAC

0.05%

Rating

8.8

Why rent a car in New Zealand?

New Zealand is a great place to explore by car. Not only both North Island and South Island are full of cozy cities and stunning natural landmarks, but the highways themselves are an adventure as they offer some of the most picturesque driving routes in the whole world.

Top ways to enter New Zealand

Auckland Airport: The busiest in New Zealand, it serves its largest city.

Christchurch Airport: The main airport of South Island.

Queenstown Airport: This cozy airport mainly serves domestic connections, but also hosts flights to Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney in Australia.

Wellington Airport: Serving the nation’s capital, Wellington Airport is the third busiest in New Zealand.

Top cities and places to visit

Queenstown: Sometimes called the Adrenaline Capital of the World, Queenstown offers everything from skydiving to snowboarding, skiing, and jet-boating, as well as truly stunning landscapes.

Auckland: Large and modern, Auckland has a thriving arts and culture scene, and offers easy access to some of New Zealand’s great nature areas.

Christchurch: Although the city is still recovering from some recent earthquakes, its friendly atmosphere and many museums and galleries make it one of the coziest destinations in New Zealand.

Aoraki Mount Cook National Park and Westland National Park: These two stunning nature areas are for those who are eager to see New Zealand’s dramatic mountain scenery up close.

Coromandel Peninsula: This coastal area is less than two hour drive away from Auckland, and makes a great place to relax and be in the nature.

Most popular rental car

The most popular rental car in New Zealand is the Nissan Tiida 2009, followed by the Toyota RAV4 and the Fiat Punto.

Most popular types of rental car

Many visitors of New Zealand choose compact and economy rental cars, but fullsize is also very popular, especially among travelers who like to go higher in the mountains and away from the main road network.

Top driving routes

Auckland - Christchurch (1,553 km / 716 mi) The New Zealand Odyssey, beloved by countless travelers, will nearly take you from end of the land to the other and will let you see New Zealand in all its majestic beauty. If you have time, it’s best to break up this route into at least a week. Of course, this route requires a ferry between Wellington and Picton, where another rental car can be booked if your rental provider does not allow the car to be taken onboard a ferry.

Christchurch - Queenstown (483 km / 300 mi) This picturesque route can be done in six hours, but why be in a rush when you’ll be passing the southern shores of Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki on the way? A circle through Greymouth might also be worthwile.

Auckland - Wellington (644 km / 400 mi) The route between the New Zealand’s largest city and the capital will take you across nearly all of the North Island. It is worth stopping to explore the Pureora Forest Park, the Tongariro National Park, and the Akatarawa Forest on the way.

Car Rental Prices

Station wagons - from $12 per day

Large cars - from $31 per day

Medium cars - from $30 per day

People Carriers/Vans - from $48 per day

Small cars - from $17 per day

SUVs - from $40 per day

How can I save money on my rental car?

You can do a number of things to get a good car rental deal in New Zealand:

Compare rates of different rental car providers

Book your rental car well in advance

Plan your route before you go

Know your fuel and mileage requirements

Visit on the month when the rental prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting New Zealand is the cheapest in July when renting a car is about 31% cheaper than the yearly average and about 44% cheaper than visiting in February when it’s the height of summer in the southern hemisphere.

Map of Car Rental Locations

Which is the cheapest month to rent a car in New Zealand?

The cost of renting a car in New Zealand depends on the time of year. This graph compares price changes from month to month in order to find the best offer.

Average Rental Price in New Zealand

$57.36

January

$50.17

February

$52.36

March

$42.07

April

$33.73

May

$29.79

June

$26.78

July

$28.09

August

$50.39

September

$56.06

October

$56.98

November

$54.13

December

The cheapest month of the year to rent a car in New Zealand is July — prices start from $26.78 for an Economy class vehicle. This is 40% cheaper than the yearly average and 53% cheaper than renting a car in the month of January (when prices start at $57.36 for a Compact class). This information can help you identify the low season. But these are only average numbers. The exact price for your trip will depend on the length of your rental and the number of days until your rental period begins. Just enter your dates in the form at the top of the page to see exact prices and offers.

What’s the average rental length in New Zealand?

The average length differs from month to month. The longest rental periods are in October — an average of 9 days. The shortest are in April — an average of 6 days.

Average Rental Length in New Zealand

8

January

7

February

7

March

6

April

7

May

8

June

7

July

8

August

8

September

9

October

8

November

7

December

What’s the most popular time for renting a car in New Zealand?

Discover Cars users search for cars in a lot of locations daily. We gathered this information in order to analyze car rental popularity in New Zealand. The most popular month is December, while the least popular is June.

Popularity of Car Rental in New Zealand by Monthly Searches

107%

January

307%

February

242%

March

21%

April

22%

May

17%

June

21%

July

24%

August

18%

September

49%

October

63%

November

310%

December

Most Popular Car Models of Rental Suppliers

Rental Agency

Model

Doors

Luggage

Type

Hitch Car Rentals

Mazda Demio

4

1

Small cars

Hitch Car Rentals

Mitsubishi Outlander

5

4

SUVs

Hitch Car Rentals

Mazda 3

4

2

Medium cars

Hitch Car Rentals

Toyota Estima

4

4

People Carriers/Vans

Snap Rentals

Toyota Vitz

5

2

Small cars

EastCoast Car Rentals

Toyota Corolla

4

1

Small cars

Discount Car Rentals New Zealand

Toyota Corolla

4

2

Large cars

Go Rentals

MG3 Hatchback

4

2

Small cars

Europcar

Toyota Corolla

5

2

Large cars

Hitch Car Rentals

Toyota Prius

5

1

Medium cars

Our Customers Reviews

PT

Australia

Mazda 3

March 3, 2020

Need more than a couple of weeks !!!!

RB

Australia

Toyota Corolla

March 3, 2020

Trying to get a rental that is close to the airport. That provide a shuttle to get you to your destination. That are on time and efficient, makes a big difference. I had this experience with Discovery rentals. Thankyou.

PC

United Kingdom

Nissan Tiida 2009

February 28, 2020

did not stay in Auckland. It was a fly fishing trip so i would recommend going to Tongariro for those who want to fly fish.

KI

Japan

Mazda Demio

February 28, 2020

This time I use the car to travell to Rotorua and Themes. It's a really comfortable drive 2 - 3 hours. Though Auckland is now under costruction everywhere, I hope it's gonna have changed greatly by the time my next visit.

MG

Australia

Nissan Tiida

February 23, 2020

Yes, good to rent a car from Christchurch to explore NZ. Great way to see the country. But be sceptical of BRC (bargain rental cars). We opted for GO rentals instead after seeing the poor state of the BRC vehicles and, while more expensive, it made for a much better overall trip.

KM

United States of America (USA)

Mazda Demio

February 23, 2020

I was heading to Northland. Agent was able to provide directions to make the drive through Auckland manageable. Much better than a previous rental company. Once out of Auckland, I can relax and enjoy.

CK

Australia

Nissan Wingroad 2009

February 23, 2020

It’s a pretty place but this trip I didn’t spend any time in Auckland.

HW

New Zealand

Toyota Vitz

February 18, 2020

Great trip, the Civic Theatre was beautiful, the food was great and I loved the Manakau Mall.

DG

Australia

Mazda Demio

January 29, 2020

I visit Christchurch twice a year, as I have family living there. It is a clean, neat city, and easy to navigate. There are several attractions worth visiting - Botanic Gardens, Museum, Art Gallery, several excellent cafes, good central city shopping.

BI

Australia

Toyota Estima 2001

November 26, 2019

traffic is so bad at peak hour, allow ample time for travelling to avoid rushing

GA

New Zealand

Toyota Camry

September 29, 2019

Hi, we rented the car from christchurch.
When first sat in car it was so comfortable & easy to adjust to the keyless start.
Then used it first to drive around christchurch for 3days sightseeing & helping with my sisters wedding, it was so ecconomical that the fuel guage didn’t move off full for 2days.
We drove the car for 6 hours to queenstown & all enjoyed the drive in such comfort.
And used only $80. In fuel to get there & only $80. In fuel to het back to christchurch.
I highly recomend hitch car rentals to everyone.
Thankyou & keep up the good work hitch 👍🏻👏

AB

Australia

Toyota Camry 2007

September 25, 2019

Good value for money, an older car that was in overall good condition other than some exterior scratches and chips which didn’t impact on the overall experience. Will definitely book again for our next trip home.

HB

Australia

Toyota Vitz

August 27, 2019

Great little city, but the roads are poor & have been for a long time .... spend some money Christchurch

CR

New Zealand

Mazda Demio

August 6, 2019

We love NZ so are biased!!!!

RH

United Kingdom

Toyota Vitz

July 17, 2019

We traveled South to Raglan, Kowhia and then Rotorua before driving back North to Warkworth. What we saw of NZ was breathtaking.

JC

United States of America (USA)

Toyota Corolla 5d

June 24, 2019

Dont stress, take your time on the road and stop and enjoy the many views around New Zealand

KM

Australia

Toyota Camry

May 11, 2019

Did 2,808 klms over 20 days and saw a lot of my homeland - North & mainly the South Island.

KD

United States of America (USA)

Toyota RAV4

April 24, 2019

New Zealand is a great driving experience. I think the vehicle you select is important.

LN

New Zealand

Nissan Bluebird Sedan

April 7, 2019

Went to Akaroa very pretty place, Hammer Springs wonderful hot pools.
Only in Christchurch one night

BT

Australia

Nissan Tiida

April 5, 2019

All of South Island fantastic

BP

United States of America (USA)

Mazda Demio

April 4, 2019

Loved visiting New Zealand again after two years from home and my car rental with Bargain Rental Cars was first class.

CS

United States of America (USA)

Toyota Prius Hybrid

April 4, 2019

Good central location for the south island of New Zealand

CL

India

Toyota Corolla Sedan

April 4, 2019

NZ was lovely, would definetly recommending travelers renting a car and going on road trip.

JS

United Kingdom

Nissan Teana

March 31, 2019

Driving tip. Keep up to speed. NZers do not tolerate tourists who cruise slower than road speed. I was stopped by police for going too slow. I was doing about 60mph which is the limit on a similar road in the UK. Also, NZers are reluctant to overtake, so move over to let them go when tailgating. I believe there is a phone number that drivers can call to report drivers going too slow, even though there are road signs saying 'stay safe, slow down' !! Driving in NZ is not like the UK on the open road - from a former driving instructor.

ES

Netherlands

Toyota Vitz

March 29, 2019

Because the Northern Island can be quite hilly, it is wise to rent a car with some power. Our car didn't meet it.

KM

United States of America (USA)

Nissan Tiida

March 28, 2019

We spent 2 months traveling in New Zealand - about 30 days on each island, with 2 different rental cars from Christ Church and Auckland. 10,000 kms total travel. Amazing scenery most everywhere. Roads were not the best overall compared to home (USA)--narrow,and a lot of curves & a lot of loose gravel due to minimalist chip & seal method of surfacing. Be careful out there and don't be surprised if you incur windscreen damage and are charged for repair / replacement as we were on the North island.

Personalized assistance during the reservation process

New Zealand

Driver's country of residence is United States of America (USA) and age is 30-65

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